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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE 

BLOOM OF YOUTH ; 

OR, 

WORTHY EXAMPLES. 

SELECTED BY THE LATE 
REV. JOSEPH BELCHER. 




PUBLISHED BY THE 
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, $ 

150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. ^ 



Wt 511 
.."B'4 



Those in the bloom of life are here present- 
ed with the history of many eminent persons 
when they were beginning the activities of 
life — examples worthy of admiration and im- 
itation. 



7 rj ( 



Entebed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by the 
American Tbact Society, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 
of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 






CONTENTS. 



DUTIES AT HOME DISCHARGED. 

Miss Hall 5 

A poor Girl in New York --- 7 

A Girl in Philadelphia 8 

A Daughter in Connecticut 11 

An Affectionate Daughter - - 13 

George Washington 15 

A Devoted Sister - 18 

Two Daughters - 24 

A Sabbath-school Girl 28 

The Sisters - 30 

KNOWLEDGE PURSUED AMIDST DIFFICULTIES. 

Joshua Marshman « - — 32 

George Wilson 35 

John Watson - 39 

EobertHall - - 45 

Henry Clay 47 

Jenny Lind - 48 

Moses Stuart 50 

William Goodell 51 

Benjamin West 56 

Adam Clark - • — 59 

Sir William Jones - 60 

EARLY ATTENTION TO RELIGION. 

Mrs. Lister -- 62 

A young Lady 64 

Mrs. Martha Washington 67 



4 CONTENTS. 

DECISION OF CHRISTIAN CONDUCT. 

A youth in Kentucky • 69 

Bhoda Ann 71 

The Clerks in Boston 73 

INDUSTRY AND PUNCTUALITY. 

Two youths in Boston 79 

George Washington - 80 

Samuel Brewer - -~^-- 81 

A young Clerk - 82 

MANIFESTATIONS OF PIETY. 

Attachment to the Scriptures — Lady Jane Gray — Miss 

West 85 

A Tender Conscience — Mr. D 87 

Confidence in God — An affectionate Daughter 88 

Besignation to God — A little Girl — .---- — -^ 89 

Love to Christ in Death — Master Cadogan 90 

EARLY EFFORTS TO DO GOOD. 

A young Preceptor - 92 

Mrs. S. B. Judson ■ 94 

Professor B 95 

THE MINOR MORALS EXEMPLIFIED. 

Gratitude — Hon. A. H. Stephens 98 

Love to Teachers — Countess of Pembroke 99 

Gentleness of Spirit — A little English Girl 100 

Patriotism — General Hamilton 103 

Neatness in Dress — Mrs. Hancock 104 

Self-possession — Three Children in Maine 105 

Self-respect— John C. Smith - — 107 

Bespect to Society— A Legislator's Daughter 108 

HOLY ZEAL IN DEATH. 

A Clergyman's Son 110 

Conclusion - 119 



THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



gttti^ »i low* §i#ftoM$t&. 



MISS HALL. 

In" the volume containing the miscel- 
laneous productions of the Hon. John 
Cotton Smith, we have a striking display 
of filial affection in Miss Huldah Hall. 
She resided at Stonington, Conn., during 
its bombardment by the British in Au- 
gust, 1814. 

A few rods from the breastwork, in a 
small house, resided an aged widow and 
her daughter. The mother was sick, and 
could not be removed. Her daughter 
remained alone with her through a night 



6 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

and day till the mother died. The be- 
reaved daughter then went forth to an- 
nounce the fact and obtain assistance to 
bury the dead. No female aid could be 
obtained, for all had fled. A few men 
assembled, but perceived they could do 
nothing with the body, except to take it 
with the bed and covering and bury them 
together. Accordingly they carried all 
to the nearest burial-ground, where they 
found a cavity made by the fall and ex- 
plosion of a shell, in which the whole 
were interred, and where they yet re- 
main. 

The composure, the passive courage, 
as well as dutiful affection of the daugh- 
ter, astonished all who saw her. With- 
out calling for aid, or uttering a complaint, 
she continued at the bedside of her dying 
mother until her death, while cannon- 
balls were often passing through the 
house, and even the room where she sat. 



A POOR GIRL IN NEW YORK. ? 

A POOE GIRL IN NEW YORK. 

What palace ever presented a picture 
more beautiful than that of an only- 
daughter in New York, in the winter of 
1713, as thus described by the historian: 

Her aged parents were, in that severe 
season, reduced to the last stick of wood. 
By her industry alone had they been 
long supported, but now she had no 
means of procuring for these beloved 
ones either food or fuel. In this distress- 
ing emergency, she thought of the expe- 
dient of going to a dentist, with the res- 
olution of disposing of her fore-teeth, 
knowing that he had advertised to give 
three guineas, about $15, for every sound 
tooth, provided only that he was allowed 
to extract it himself. On her arrival she 
made known the circumstances which in- 
duced her to make the sacrifice, which so 
affected the dentist that he could not for- 



8 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

bear shedding tears. He made her a 
present of ten guineas, with which, with 
a heart full of joy, she hastened home to 
relieve her parents. 



A GIEL IN PHILADELPHIA. 

G-oing up Third-street, says the editor 
of the ''Philadelphia True Sun, 77 a few 
years since, we were attracted by the 
cry, " going, going, going, 77 at one of the 
pawnbroking establishments, and on en- 
tering it, found it filled with a motley 
assemblage, examining the mixed dis- 
play of goods, wares, and merchandise 
arranged for sale. A cradle, a feather- 
bed, a watch, a bureau, a coat and vest 
were successively disposed of, at prices 
which struck us to be far above their 
value, and it was amusing to witness the 
eagerness with which the competitors 
sought to possess themselves of the va- 






A GIEL IN PHILADELPHIA. 9 

rious objects of their competition. We 
noticed among the group an interesting 
girl about seventeen years of age, in 
faded yet deep mourning. There was an 
expression of anxious melancholy upon 
her pale and beautiful countenance, which 
riveted our attention ; she was not among 
those who were bidding, but was undoubt- 
edly waiting until some article was offer- 
ed which she was desirous of possessing. 
At length the auctioneer offered a minia- 
ture and locket. The pale girl started, 
and rushing towards the counter, ex- 
claimed in a voice of deep anguish, 

" Oh, do n't — do n't sell them, sir ; keep 
them a little while longer. I shall be 
able to redeem them. I shall indeed." 

"What is bid for them?" continued 
the auctioneer. 

"Do not bid," almost shrieked the girl. 
"I had to pawn them to get bread for 
my little sister ; it is my mother's hair 



10 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

which, that locket contains — poor, dear 
mother, who gave it to me when she was 
dying. Oh, do not sell it — pray do n't." 
It is impossible to describe the sen- 
sation produced by this appeal among 
that assemblage. There was not a soli- 
tary bid for the articles ; but we saw an 
elderly gentleman in the simple garb of 
a Quaker go to the desk, and in a few 
minutes afterwards we saw that pale girl 
press his hand to her lips, and after 
eagerly kissing something which he hand- 
ed to her, she rushed from the room. 
This scene terminated the sale that day, 
for the audience soon began to disperse, 
the few that remained evincing no dis- 
position to possess themselves of any of 
the "unredeemed pledges ;; remaining on 
hand. 



A DAUGHTER IN CONNECTICUT. 11 
A DAUGHTEB IN CONNECTICUT. 

The New Haven Courier several years 
ago related the following incident : 

In a lawyer's office in a remote part of 
this state, lay a mortgage for eleven hun- 
dred dollars, which was within a few 
days of being due. One morning the 
man on whose place the mortgage was 
held, called and inquired if the payment 
could not be put off a short time. He 
was a man somewhat advanced in life, 
and very intemperate. The lawyer in 
reply to his inquiries said that the gen- 
tleman who held the mortgage wanted 
his money — that he was sorry, but it 
could not be extended. The tears came 
to the old man's eyes, and after standing 
a few moments, an image of despair, he 
turned and left the office. He returned 
home, believing that in a few short days 
his aged and infirm wife and invalid 



12 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

daughter would have to quit the roof 
which had so long sheltered them, and 
seek for a home he knew not where. 

He could say nothing to them about 
it, it would cause them so much grief. 
The mortgage became due, and in the 
morning early the farmer again repaired 
to the lawyer's office. He pleaded for 
time, but to no purpose. Overcome with 
emotion, the old man sank into a chair, 
and there sat for two hours apparently 
unconscious of any thing that was pass- 
ing around him, when a carriage drove 
up to the door, and a young lady stepped 
from it. She entered the office. After 
standing a few moments, looking at the 
old man with interest and emotion, she 
spoke. The old man looked up. 

" Father, how do you do?" 

"Oh, Sarah, I am well, but sad. I 
am glad to see you, but sorry for your 
aged mother and invalid sister. I can- 



AN AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTEE. 13 

not return to them, for it will be to tell 
them they have no home, and this I can- 
not bear. It will kill your poor mother. 77 

" Father, father/ 7 said the daughter, 
"could you live a temperate man, if this 
were paid?" 

"Yes; yes, I would; but it cannot 
be, for I have nothing to pay it with. 77 

"Now sign the pledge, and here is the 
money. 77 The old man put his name to 
the pledge, and departed to his home 
with a happy heart. 

The daughter had saved the $1,100 by 
working in a factory. 



AN AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTEE. 

A respectable old gentleman for a 
number of years kept a good supply of 
cider in his house, and regularly, though 
temperately, indulged in its use. His 
daughter, being the youngest member of 



14 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

the family, and a favorite withal, gener- 
ally had the privilege of drawing the 
cider for him — and a great privilege she 
used to consider it. In process of time 
she attended a temperance meeting, and 
there with others signed the total absti- 
nence pledge. Not long after she reach- 
ed home, her father came in, and after a 
while requested her to go down into the 
cellar and draw him a mug of his favor- 
ite beverage. 

"Why, father/ 7 she replied, "I have 
signed the pledge • and the lecturer said 
it was not only wrong to drink ourselves, 
but that we ought not to encourage others 
to do so. I rather guess, father/ 7 she 
playfully continued, "that I can't draw 
you any more cider. " 

The old gentleman fixed his eyes on 
the floor for a minute, apparently buried 
in thought, and then exclaimed, 

"Well, my child, if you ought not to 



GE0KGE WASHINGTON. 15 

draw me cider, I certainly ought not to 
drink it — and I wont!' 7 

From that day he took not a drop of 
any thing that could intoxicate, and he 
and his whole family became stanch 
friends and supporters of the temperance 
cause. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

When about fourteen years of age, 
this illustrious man entered the navy. 
When the time arrived that he was to 
leave home, he went into the sitting-room 
of his mother, to take leave of her. She 
was seated and in tears. 

He approached her, and putting his 
arms about her neck, affectionately 
kissed her. He was about to bid her 
" farewell; 77 but he hesitated. Her affec- 
tion and affliction unmanned him. He 
was young and ambitious, yet the filial 
feelings of his heart were stronger than 



16 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

any other ties ; and here, nobly sacrific- 
ing his pride and ambition, he relinquish- 
ed his purpose, and stayed to comfort 
her who gave him birth. The boat 
which was conveying officers and men 
and baggage from the shore and the ship 
continued to ply. At length it returned 
on shore for the last time. A signal flag 
was hoisted to denote that all was ready. 

G-eorge was standing viewing the 
movements. Several of his companions 
now entered the boat, which presently 
was urged towards the ship by the oars- 
men. 

As they approached her, the signal 
gun for sailing was fired. The flash fol- 
lowed by the report was noticed by 
G-eorge, soon after which the sails rose 
majestically one after another. 

George could no longer bear the sight 
with calmness, but turned away, and en- 
tered the room where his mother sat. 



GEOKGE WASHINGTON. 17 

She observed the grief which sat upon, 
his countenance, and said to him, "I fear, 
my son, that you have repented your de- 
termination to stay at home and make 
me happy. 77 

"My dear mother, 77 he replied, at the 
same time placing his arms about her 
neck, and giving vent to his feelings with 
a gush of tears, "I did strongly wish to 
go ; but I could not endure being on board 
the ship, and knowing that you were un- 
happy. 77 

How wonderfully does the superin- 
tending providence of God appear in this 
matter ! At sea, Washington could have 
done but little for his country ; on land 
God prepared him for the accomplish- 
ment of what probably no other man 
could have done. 



filoom of Youth. 



18 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

A DEVOTED SISTEB. 

A few days ago, says a writer in "The 
Mother's Magazine," I was at the state 
prison at Sing Sing, where I heard the 
facts I am about to relate. 

A young man from Nova Scotia came 
to the city of New York, and fell among 
thieves. He became the companion of 
criminals, perhaps was a criminal him- 
self. Certainly he was arrested on a 
charge of crime, was tried, convicted, 
and sent to the prison at Sing Sing. 

His sister in Nova Scotia heard of the 
fate of her brother, and resolved to se- 
cure his deliverance from prison. She 
was only a servant-girl, and her scanty 
purse was barely sufficient to defray her 
expenses through the long journey to the 
city. When she reached New York, 
she learned that the only way to get her 
brother out of prison was by pardon from 



A DEVOTED SISTEE. 19 

the governor of the state, and he was at 
Albany. She had no means to employ 
counsel to aid her in making the applica- 
tion, nor even the little that was neces- 
sary to pay her own way to the gover- 
nor. She went to service in the city, and 
worked faithfully till she had earned 
money enough to defray her expenses to 
Albany, and was soon there, a stranger, 
a young unprotected woman, with no oth- 
er recommendation than that of having a 
brother in the state prison. She inquir- 
ed her way to the house of the governor, 
obtained an audience, and then with all 
the eloquence of love so long pent up in 
her bosom, she made known her request. 
The governor said that he must have 
some reason for granting the pardon, or 
he could not interfere. ' ' But my brother 
is an innocent man," said the girl, who 
had never for a moment indulged the 
thought that he could be guilty of crime. 



20 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

The governor wanted something more 
than her word for it, and giving her the 
small comfort of words of sympathy and 
kindness, sent her away. 

She returned to New York, and find- 
ing a place, again resumed her domestic 
service, and indefatigably labored, as 
time and opportunity allowed, to accom- 
plish what was now the great object of 
her life. And what will not persever- 
ance and love achieve? Hopeless as the 
attempt might appear, she found the men 
who composed the jury that convicted 
her brother, and obtained the names of 
every one of them to a petition setting 
forth mitigating circumstances in his case, 
and asking the interposition of executive 
clemency in his behalf. With this peti- 
tion the devoted sister hurried to Albany, 
and full of hope, she presented it to the 
governor. He was moved by the in- 
tensity of her purpose, and the ardent 



A DEVOTED SISTEK. 21 

strength of her affection. But he still 
hesitated. 

" Why," said she, "you must pardon 
my brother. I shall never leave you 
until you do. I shall stay just here and 
pray for ever ; and if you wish me to go 
away, you must pardon him, and I will 
bless you, and God will bless you the 
longest day you live." Her tears and 
prayers so far prevailed as to extort a 
promise that he would make immediate 
inquiries into the case, and if they were 
satisfactory he would transmit the pardon 
by a certain day, which he named, through 
the mail, to the prison at Sing Sing. 

Once more the noble-hearted girl re- 
turned to her work and waited for the 
slow weeks to wear away. But they 
flew faster when she thought that the time 
of her brother's liberty drew near, which 
would be the reward of her toil and suf- 
fering. 



22 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

On the very clay which the governor 
had named, the constant sister made her 
appearance at the door of the prison at 
Sing Sing, and informed the keeper that 
she had come for her brother, who on 
that day was to be pardoned by the gov- 
ernor. She was told that no pardon had 
been received. Her heart sank within 
her. Was she, after all, to be disap- 
pointed? "But the governor said he 
would send it by the mail, and it would 
be here to-day. He will keep his prom- 
ise, I know he will." The keeper was 
struck with her appearance, and deeply 
interested in her manner. He told her 
to come in, and he would send to the 
post-office. While the messenger was 
gone she walked the room in great agita- 
tion, trembling between hope and fear; 
and when the word was brought that 
there was no pardon, she protested that 
it would come, and she should not leave 



A DEVOTED SISTEK. 23 

the prison until it did. The kind-hearted 
keeper took her to his house and per- 
mitted her to stay there awaiting the 
arrival of the governor's letter. The 
next day it came — the pardon came — and 
she embraced her brother free, and freed 
by his sister's sacrifice and love. 

The pardon was accompanied by a let- 
ter from the governor to the prisoner, 
urging him in strong and impressive lan- 
guage to conduct himself hereafter in a 
manner worthy of the noble sister of 
whom he had reason to be proud, and to 
whose self-denying and persevering efforts 
he was indebted for his liberty. The 
brother and sister rejoicing in their re- 
union and the boon of freedom so toilfully 
won, took their way from the prison- 
house, and went into retirement to earn 
an honest livelihood. 



24 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

TWO DAUGHTEKS. 

A gentleman residing in the western 
part of the state of New York, a few 
years since sent two of his daughters to 
Litchfield to be educated. While they 
were there, G-od was pleased to bless the 
church with a revival of religion, the news 
of which soon reached the ears of their 
father. He was much troubled for his 
daughters, " apprehensive, 77 to use his 
own words, "lest their minds should be 
affected, and they should be frightened 
into religion." 

Fully alive, as he thought, to their 
happiness, and determined to allay their 
fears and quiet their distresses, he sent 
a friend to Litchfield with positive or- 
ders to bring them immediately home, 
that they might not be lost to all happi- 
ness and hope, and consigned to gloom 
and despondency. 



TWO DAUGHTERS. 25 

The messenger departed on his errand. 
But the young ladies had already chosen 
Christ for their portion, and had resolved 
that whatever others might do, they 
would serve the Lord. They looked at 
both sides of the great question: they 
looked at the world and the pleasures 
of the world, and they thought of God 
and the glories of immortality ; and with 
an eye full fixed upon heaven, they de- 
termined to live for eternity. They saw 
their chief happiness to consist in loving 
and serving the Lord. They discovered 

that 

" Beligion never was designed 
To make our pleasures less :" 

that it commends and approves every 
rational enjoyment which the world can 
afford, and adds others of a higher and 
more exalted nature, which the world 
cannot give, and which it cannot take 
away. 



26 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

They returned to their father's house, 
not overwhelmed, as he expected, with 
gloom and despondency, but with hearts 
glowing with gratitude to God, and coun- 
tenances beaming with serenity and hope. 
Indeed they rejoiced in the Saviour. 
They told their father what the Lord had 
done for their souls, that they were only 
pilgrims on earth, that they were keep- 
ing in view the bright fields of promise 
as they traversed this desert of sin, and 
were looking for that " city which hath 
foundations. 77 

Soon after they had returned home 
they were anxious to establish family 
worship. They affectionately requested 
their father to commence that duty. He 
replied that he saw no use in it. He 
had lived very well more than fifty years 
without prayer, and he could not be bur- 
dened with it now. They then asked 
permission to pray with the family them- 



TWO DAUGHTERS. 2? 

selves. Not thinking that they would 
have confidence to do it, he assented to 
their proposal. 

The duties of the day being ended, 
and the hour for retiring to rest having 
arrived, the sisters drew forward the 
stand, placed on it the Bible, and one of 
them read a chapter. They both kneeled, 
and the other offered prayer. 

The father stood ; but while the hum- 
ble, fervent prayer of his daughter was 
ascending to heaven, his knees began to 
tremble; he also kneeled, and then be- 
came prostrate on the floor. 

G-od heard their prayer, and directed 
their father's weeping eyes, which never 
shed tears of penitence before, to "the 
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin 
of the world. ;; 

Happy family ! a believing father and 
believing children. Happy they whose 
Grod is the Lord. 



28 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

A SABBATH-SCHOOL GIEL. 

A little girl became hopefully pious 
when she was about nine years old. 
During the next winter she attended the 
district-school. When the school was 
dismissed at night, she was in the habit 
of lingering behind till all the scholars 
had left, and then returning to the school- 
house, and spending a short time in 
prayer. 

Her father was an irreligious man, 
and at heart an infidel ; but he was very 
kind and affectionate to his little daugh- 
ter. One day when the weather was 
extremely severe and the wind high and 
piercing, the father was afraid his daugh- 
ter would perish with the cold. He there- 
fore set off to meet her as she returned 
from school at night. He met the other 
scholars on their return home, but the 
dear object of his search was not among 



A SABBATH-SCHOOL GIRL. 29 

them. With all the earnestness of an 
anxious parent, he hastened to the school- 
house. When he arrived there, all seem- 
ed silent except the piercing gusts of 
wind which whistled round the school- 
house. He cautiously opened the door 
and entered. At that moment a voice 
indicating the greatest earnestness fell 
upon his ear. He stopped and listened. 
It was his own beloved child, pleading 
with God to have mercy upon her dear 
papa. 

The father's emotion was too strong to 
be suppressed, and his soul was filled 
with agony and bitterness. He drew 
near and embraced his child, and then 
accompanied her home, deeply convinced 
that he was a sinner. In a few weeks 
he submitted himself to Christ, and ac- 
cepted him as his all-sufficient Saviour, 
and as the only foundation of his hope 
of eternal life. This once impious infi- 



30 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH 

del became, by the prayers of his little 
daughter, a devoted and active Chris- 
tian. 



THE SISTEES. 



A young lady who afterwards became 
the wife of a missionary, immediately 
after her own conversion began to pray 
and to use means for the salvation of her 
three younger sisters. She commenced 
and continued to act systematically, A 
short season was devoted every week to 
pray with and for them. At length He 
who is both a prayer-hearing and a pray- 
er-answering God, who has said, "Ask, 
and ye shall receive/' "ye shall not 
seek my face in vain," condescended to 
give her a gracious answer. The three 
sisters were brought to bow to the scep- 
tre of Jesus, and to take upon them the 
profession of his name. After their 



THE SISTERS. 31 

conversion, the prayer-meeting became 
doubly interesting to them ail, and it was 
continued by the three for whom it was 
'first established, who had thus learned 
the value of intercessory devotion. 



i 



32 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



<g,tww\ttyt ^xvmA miM §iUxmXtk$. 



JOSHUA MAKSHMAN. 

Most of our readers have heard of Dr. 
Marshman, a learned missionary in In- 
dia. "We can give them some account of 
him in early life, so that they may also 
be encouraged to apply themselves dili- 
gently to the improvement of their minds. 

"I was eight years old," he says, "and 
one evening my father related to me the 
story of David and Groliath, and after- 
wards, at my request, pointed it out to 
me in the Bible. I read it immediately, 
and wishing to know how it came about, 
went back several chapters, and got all 
the story. This roused my curiosity so 
much 9 that in thirteen months I found 
time to read all the history in the Old 



JOSHUA MAKSHMAN. 33 

Testament, which I have never since for- 
gotten. Soon after this happened, I went 
to the fair, where there chanced to be 
an old book-stall. I had never thought 
there had been so manv books in the 
whole world ; and I quickly commenced 
an examination of them. I found among 
others, 'The Annals of English History;' 
in turning over which, I lighted on the 
story of ' The Achievements of Wallace/ 
with which I was so fascinated that I re- 
mained standing at the stall two hours, 
until I had finished reading it. From 
this time I used to search every house 
to which I had access for books, and at 
Oakes Ingram's found several, all of 
which I read again and again. 

"One Sabbath, at church, being in a 
strange seat, I discovered in a Bible 
'The Apocrypha,' which I had never 
before seen. With this I was perfectly 
delighted ; and used to go home and has- 

Bloom of Youth. 3 



34 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

tily swallow my dinner, and run to the 
meeting in order to read it. Mr. Marsh- 
man, a relative, who preached in the 
vicinity, having heard how much I was 
attached to reading, brought me several 
books, and among others, * Josephus/ and 
a thin quarto volume, ' Salmon's Geogra- 
phy. 7 The latter of these I used to carry 
buttoned up between my waistcoat and 
my shirt ; and by so doing, it had at last 
scarcely a straight, leaf in it. In conse- 
quence of this, I gained a bad name for 
my usage of books.' 7 

This was the beginning of the educa- 
tion of a minister who acquired the know- 
ledge of thirteen languages, and in con- 
nection with others, translated the Bible 
into all of them. Thus, without anv of 
those advantages for literary acquire- 
ments which are furnished in our schools, 
academies, and colleges, he rose to a very 
exalted station among the learned. 



GEORGF WILSON. 35 

GEOEGE WILSON. 

A few years since, as the late Mr. Gal- 
laudet was walking in the streets of Hart- 
ford, there came running to him a poor 
boy of very ordinary appearance at first 
sight, but whose fine, intelligent eye fixed 
the gentleman's attention as the boy in- 
quired, "Sir, can you tell me of a man 
who would like a boy to work for him 
and learn to read?' 7 

"Whose boy are you, and where do 

vou live?" 

%j 

"I have no parents," was the reply, 
"and have just run away from the work- 
house, because they would not teach me 
to read." 

The gentleman made arrangements 
with the authorities of the town, and 
took the boy into his own family. There 
he learned to read. He soon acquired 
the confidence of his new associates by 



36 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

his faithfulness and honesty. He was 
allowed the use of his friend's library, 
and made rapid progress in the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge. 

It became necessary after a while 
that G-eorge should leave Mr. G-allaudet, 
and he became apprenticed to a cabinet- 
maker in the neighborhood. There the 
same integrity won for him the favor of 
his new associates. To gratify his incli- 
nation for study, his master had a little 
room furnished for him in the upper part 
of the shop, where he devoted his leisure 
time to his favorite pursuits. Here he 
made large attainments in mathemat- 
ics, in the French language, and other 
branches. 

After being in this situation a few 
years, as he sat at tea with the family 
one evening, he all at once remarked 
that he wanted to go to France. 

"Gk> to France !" said his master, sur- 



GEORGE WILSON. 37 

prised that the apparently contented and 
happy youth had thus suddenly become 
dissatisfied with his situation ; [ l for what ? 77 

"Ask Mr. G-allaudet to tea to-mor- 
row evening/ 7 continued George, "and 
I will explain. 77 

His kind friend was invited accord- 
ingly, and at teatime the apprentice pre- 
sented himself with his manuscripts in 
English and French, and explained his 
singular intention to go to France. 

"In the time of Napoleon, 77 said he, 
"a prize was offered by the French gov- 
ernment for the simplest rule for meas- 
uring plain surfaces, of whatever outline. 
The prize has never been awarded, and 
that method I have discovered. 77 

He then demonstrated his problem, 
to the surprise and gratification of his 
friends, who immediately furnished him 
with means of defraying his expenses, and 
with letters of introduction to the Hon. 



W THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

Lewis Cass, then our minister to the 
court of France. He was introduced to 
Louis Philippe, and in the presence of 
the king, nobles, and plenipotentiaries, 
this American youth demonstrated his 
problem, and enjoyed the plaudits of the 
court. He received the prize which he 
had won, besides valuable presents from 
the king. 

He then took letters of introduction, 
and proceeded to the court of St. James, 
and took up a similar prize offered by 
the Eoyal Society, and returned to the 
United States. Here he was preparing 
to secure the benefit of his discovery by 
patent, when he received a letter from 
the emperor Nicholas himself, one of 
whose ministers had witnessed his dem- 
onstrations in London, inviting him to 
make his residence at the Eussian court, 
and furnishing him with ample means for 
his outfit. 



JOHN WATSON. 39 

He complied with the invitation, re- 
paired to St. Petersburgh, and became 
Professor of Mathematics in the Royal 
College, under the special protection of 
the autocrat of all the Russias. 



JOHN WATSON. 

John Watson was descended from 
poor but reputable parents, west of the 
mountains in Pennsylvania. His parents 
taught him to read at an early age, and 
it is believed that he never regularly 
went to school. He had no extraordi- 
nary attachment to books until, when 
about six or seven years old, his father 
made him a present of one, in the story 
of which he became so much interested 
that, if permitted, he would have read 
all night. From this period, his desire 
to read and to obtain knowledge became 
insatiable ; and his father cherished this 



40 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

feeling by furnishing books chiefly on 
geography and history. 

When he was about nine years of age, 
he was deprived of his father, and was 
taken into the family of a friend, where 
he was required to perform such service 
as he was capable of rendering. The 
lady with whom he now lived had a 
handsome collection of books, especially 
novels, of which she was a great reader. 
She soon discovered that "Watson was 
at every leisure moment reading these 
fictions. 

Whether she thought they were im- 
proper books for a boy of his age, or that 
his reading occupied too much of his 
time, she forbade his touching her nov- 
els. He wished to be obedient to a lady 
who, in every other respect, treated him 
kindly, but he could not resist his desire 
to read. He secretly took her books, 
and concealing them in private places, 



JOHN WATSON. 41 

read them by stealth. This stratagem 
was discovered; the bookcase was lock- 
ed, and the key securely kept. 

Mortified and miserable, Watson lay 
awake whole nights thinking about the 
books and devising means to obtain them. 
To use stratagem again, he thought wrong 
and dangerous. While in this state of 
mind, he found a key, and it occurred to 
him that it might possibly open the book- 
case. In her absence, agitated by fear 
lest he should not succeed, and by a sense 
of guilt, knowing he was doing wrong, 
he made the experiment, and was suc- 
cessful. During the absence of the lady, 
he from time to time exchanged the books, 
till he had read the whole of them. 

Some time after, the gentleman with 
whom he lived keeping a tavern and a 
retail store, he taught Watson writing 
and arithmetic, that he might assist him 
in his business. 



42 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

Still his beloved books occupied his 
attention at every leisure moment from 
the store and the bar-room. " Addison's 
Spectator "- fell into his hands, and was 
read with great delight. Prefixed to 
each number of that work, he usually 
found a Latin sentence, which he could 
not understand. This was a source of 
great mortification, and excited a strong 
desire to learn Latin. About this time, 
when he was eleven or twelve years old, 
he got possession of a copy of " Horace " 
and an old torn "Latin Dictionary; 77 and 
with these, without a grammar or any 
other aid, he commenced learning Latin. 
By unremitted diligence and labor, he 
was able to understand a great part of 
that difficult book. 

While "Watson was thus employed, Al- 
exander Addison, then President of the 
Court of Common Pleas in the western 
district of Pennsylvania, lodged at the 



JOHN WATSON. 43 

public-house where he lived, and return- 
ing to his lodgings one night at a late 
hour, after the family had retired to rest, 
he found the young bar-keeper reading 
Horace by fire-light. 

Entering into familiar conversation 
with Watson, he learned with surprise 
the study in which he was engaged, and 
the progress he had made. Addison 
expressed his delight in finding him so 
laudably employed, and his regret that 
he was not furnished with better means 
of obtaining a classical education. He 
promised, however, to bring him some 
suitable books at the next session of the 
court. 

This was the first encouraging word 
the boy had heard respecting his studies 
since the death of his father. Its effect 
was transporting. In imagination he saw 
himself a learned man, able to read Latin 
and Greek, and every thing he wished. 



44 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

The ardently desired time at length 
arrived, and the judge rode up to the 
tavern door. Watson, anticipating the 
hostler, seized the horse's bridle, and at 
the same time cast an impatient look tow- 
ards the portmanteau. "I have brought 
you the books, my good lad, ;? said the 
judge. "Never," said Watson, when 
relating this incident, "did I experience 
a more joyful moment. My heart was 
so full that I could not utter a word." 
Books adapted to the object he had in 
view were now in his possession. 

Having given some general directions 
respecting the manner of studying the 
Latin grammar, and of applying its rules 
in the course of reading, the judge prom- 
ised to furnish such books as would be 
suitable at future periods. This pledge 
was faithfully redeemed, and books in 
other departments as well as the classics 
were now furnished by the judge and 



EOBEET HALL. 45 

other friends. By diligent study, Wat- 
son became a very eminent Latin and 
Greek scholar, and ultimately was the 
first president of Jefferson college. 

At about the age of thirty, this excel- 
lent young man was removed to a better 
world ; believing in death, as he had long 
done in life, that the simple truths of the 
gospel were of infinitely more value than 
all human science. 



EOBEET HALL. 

"When the late Eev. Eobert Hall of 
Bristol, England, was about six years of 
age, on starting from home on Monday, 
it was his practice to take with him two 
or three books from his father's library, 
that he might read them in the intervals 
between the school hours. The books he 
selected were not those of mere amuse- 
ment, but such as required deep and se- 



46 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

rious thought. Before he was nine years 
of age, he had read the treatises of Dr. 
Jonathan Edwards, and "Butler's Analo- 
gy/ 7 on all of which he must have thought 
very much, or he could not have found 
so much pleasure in reading them. Be- 
fore he was ten years old, he had written 
many essays, principally on religion, and 
he often preached very sensibly to his 
"brothers and sisters. All this he did, 
though from his childhood he had to en- 
dure great pain, arising from disease, 
which at length led him to the grave. 

Robert Hall grew up to be a great and 
good man. Everybody respected him 
for his fine talents, which he had nursed 
from his infancy ; and even those who 
did not love his religion, admired his 
understanding. This was owing to his 
early diligence, and God's blessiug upon 
it. 



HENRY CLAY. 41 

HENKY CLAY. 

It is always desirable to know liow to 
speak well in public. The celebrated 
Henry Clay, when speaking to a number 
of young men at Ballston Springs, in the 
state of New York, stated that he owed 
his success as a speaker to one single 
fact : that when he was a young man he 
commenced, and continued for years, the 
process of daily reading and speaking 
upon the contents of some historical or 
scientific book. ' ' These off-hand efforts, ;; 
he added, "were made sometimes in a 
corn-field, at others in the forest, and 
not unfrequently in some distant barn, 
with the horse and the ox for my audi- 
tors. It is to this early practice of the 
great art of all arts that I am indebted 
for the primary and leading impulses 
that stimulated me forward, and have 
shaped and moulded my entire subse- 



48 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

quent destiny. Improve then, young 
gentlemen, the superior advantages you 
enjoy. Let not a day pass without exer- 
cising your powers of speech. There is 
no power like that of oratory. Cassar 
controlled men by exciting their fears ; 
Cicero by captivating their affections, and 
swaying their passions. The influence 
of the one perished with its author, that 
of the other continues to this day. " 



JENNY LIND. 



It can scarcely be necessary to remind 
our young readers of the necessity of 
perseverance, if they would accomplish 
any great and good object. Here is an 
illustration of what it will do. 

In a small city in the North of Europe, 
within the last quarter of a century, a 
school-girl began to warble the wild mel- 
odies of her own mountain home with a 



JENNY LIND. 49 

sweetness that entranced her classmates 
and friends. So wildly beautiful were 
the tones of her voice, that multitudes 
crowded around her to listen to its magi- 
cal strains. 

In the midst of her successes she lost 
that voice. No one could assure her 
that she would ever regain it. It came 
again, but was feeble. It no longer de- 
lighted multitudes. She was not dis- 
couraged. She persevered through long 
years, to cultivate it, and if possible, re- 
cover its former purity and power. It 
came not, and the best musicians in the 
land spoke doubtingly of her success ; 
yet she toiled on, and when she least ex- 
pected it, and when others had almost 
forgotten its former purity and fascina- 
tion, it came with twofold beauty, to as- 
tonish and delight tens of thousands on 
both sides of the Atlantic. Patient 
industry, an onward course, and high 



The Bloom of Youth. 



50 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

resolves won back again the lost treasure 
to the queen of song — Jenny Lind, now 
Madame G-oldschmidt. 



MOSES STUABT. 

The late Professor Stuart of Andover 
was a farmer's son, and until the age of 
fourteen, intended to lead a farmer's life. 
Hence his early education was meant to 
fit him for an agriculturist. 

At four years old, it is said, he read a 
book of ballads, which developed in him 
a lifelong passion for imaginative genius. 
At the age of twelve, he read with ab- 
sorbing interest that masterly produc- 
tion, " Edwards on the Will," and at the 
age of fourteen began to prepare for col- 
lege. In one evening he learned the 
four conjugations of Latin verbs, in 
another the sixty rules of syntax, and in 
three days was master of the grammar. 






WILLIAM GOODELL. 51 

He was a favorite pupil of Dr. Dwight, 
under whom he graduated in 1799. His 
printed volumes are not less than twenty, 
and his reviews and essays fill more 
than two thousand octavo pages. 



WILLIAM GOODELL. 

The aged Mr. John Adams, for many 
years preceptor of the Academy at An- 
dover, Mass., and now a Sabbath-school 
missionary in Illinois, writing a letter to 
a Sabbath-school in New York, gave the 
following facts in the early life of the 
Eev. Mr. Gf-oodell, the well-known mis- 
sionary in Turkey : 

The first time I saw him was at my 
door, as I was leaving the house to open 
the academy, after a short vacation. He 
addressed me modestly, and inquired, 
"Are you Mr. Adams?" "Yes." "Well, 
I want to enter your academy." " Very 



52 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

well; go with me." " Can I have 'char- 
ity? 777 "That will depend on circum- 
stances. If, upon trial for one quarter, 
you are found worthy, you can receive 
aid from our 'charity fund. 7 I can give 
you no other encouragement at present. 7 ' 
11 1 wish I had not come" 

Upon this, I perceived the tears were 
dropping; he was evidently disappoint- 
ed. I said to him, "You are poor, your 
father cannot aid you in obtaining an 
education, you say. If it be so, do you 
expect to be fitted for college, then to 
pass through college, and then to com- 
plete your preparation for the ministry — 
all this without trials?" This had the 
desired effect. He recovered himself, 
taking his handkerchief, which his good 
mother had manufactured, to wipe away 
his tears, and followed me along till we 
entered the academy. 

I took his name, age, and residence, 



WILLIAM GOODELL. 53 

gave him a Latin grammar, and assigned 
Mm a seat. Before the close of the morn- 
ing session, I called him to recite his les- 
son. He repeated all the first page "ver- 
batim," notes and all; then the second, 
then the third. I said, " You must have 
studied the Latin grammar before." His 
reply was, "I never saw a Latin gram- 
mar before you gave me this." He went 
on in his studies with great rapidity and 
accuracy. In our daily spelling exer- 
cises I never knew him to misspell a sin- 
gle word. In short, he proved himself 
to be an excellent scholar, a pious and 
devoted youth. He obtained all the char- 
itable aid he needed. He had no more 
tears to shed but those of gratitude. 

When he came to Anclover, he did 
not come by railroad, for at that time 
there was none. Neither did he ride in 
the stage, for this would have cost mon- 
ey, of which he had none. But he came 



54 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

a journey of several days on foot, bring- 
ing Ms all with him in a wooden trunk or 
box made by his own hands, and lashed 
to his back. 

After he had been in the academy 
about a year, I consulted with him about 
my writing to Mr. Solomon G-oodell, a 
wealthy uncle of his in Vermont. He 
said, "It will do no good. Uncle is a 
hard-working man, and is careful of ev- 
ery copper. He thinks that boys ought 
to work, work, instead of idling away 
their time in getting laming" After sev- 
eral weeks, notwithstanding this discour- 
aging account, I wrote to his uncle as 
good a letter as I could, commending to 
his favorable notice his very worthy 
nephew. 

After several months, a stranger rode 
up to my door and handed me a scrap 
of paper in the form of a letter to me, in 
nearly the following words: " Sir, I send 



WILLIAM GOODELL. 55 

you a pair of fat oxen for William Good- 
ell in your school. 77 This present was 
unexpected, and may have led the way 
in opening his heart to give very gener- 
ously to the Education Society and to 
other benevolent objects. He gave by 
hundreds of dollars in his lifetime, and 
finally bequeathed the bulk of his prop- 
erty to charitable institutions. 

William Goodeli, though poor and de- 
pressed at first, was sustained in the 
academy, and then in Dartmouth col- 
lege, and through a three years 7 course 
at the Theological Seminary, Anclover, 
and soon after entered upon his mission- 
ary labors. These, for about thirty 
years, I shall not attempt even to name. 
They are well known to the churches. 
After he had finished the last verse of 
his translation of the Bible into the Ar- 
meno- Turkish language, I seem to see 
him fall upon his knees, agitated with 



56 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

grateful and pious emotions, the tears 
rolling down Ms cheeks, and fervent 
prayer ascending to God from a full 
heart that he would now bless his own 
word, put into a language which the com- 
mon people could read and could under- 
stand. 



BENJAMIN WEST. 

The facts connected with the early life 
of this eminent man, who became the first 
painter of his day, cannot but be inter- 
esting. 

The first six years of his life passed 
away without any thing remarkable, leav- 
ing only the sweet remembrance of the 
joys of home. In the month of June, 
1745, one of his sisters who was mar- 
ried, came with her infant daughter to 
spend a few days at her father's house. 
When the child was asleep in the cradle, 



BENJAMIN WEST. 57 

Mrs. West invited her daughter to gather 
flowers in the garden, and committed the 
infant to the care of Benjamin during 
their absence, giving him a fan to drive 
away the flies from molesting his little 
charge. After some time the child hap- 
pened to smile in its sleep, and its beauty 
attracted his attention. He looked at 
the child with pleasure which he had 
never before experienced, and seeing 
some paper on the table, together with 
pens and red and black ink, he took 
them up with agitation, and endeavored 
to^ draw her portrait. At this time he 
had scarcely ever seen a picture or en- 
graving, and was only in the seventh 
year of his age. 

Hearing the approach of his mother 
and sister, he endeavored to conceal 
the picture from them • but his mother 
observing his confusion, inquired what 
he had been doing, and requested him to 



58 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

show lier the paper. He obeyed, entreat- 
ing her not to be angry. Mrs. "West, 
after looking at the drawing with evident 
pleasure, said to her daughter, "He has 
made a likeness of little Sally, " and kiss- 
ed him with much fondness and satisfac- 
tion. This encouraged him to say that if 
it would give her any pleasure, he would 
make pictures of the flowers which she 
held in her hand ; for the instinct of his 
genius was now awakened, and he felt 
that he could imitate the forms of the 
things which pleased his sight. 

Long after this period, Benjamin had 
no pencil with which to produce his 
paintings ; but having been told that in 
Europe pencils were made of earners 
hair, he determined to procure a substi- 
tute ; and he extracted from the tail of a 
black cat the requisite quantity of hairs 
for his first brush. Such was the com- 
mencement of a series of labors which 



ADAM CLARKE. 59 

raised West to high distinction, and to 
be a favorite even of George the Third 
of England. 



ADAM CLAKKE. 

Let our young readers who have not 
been blessed with very quick and brill- 
iant talents, be encouraged to labor and 
persevere, in the hope of making prog- 
ress in whatever it may be important for 
them to learn. 

The celebrated Dr. Adam Clarke, a 
commentator on the Bible, was, in the 
estimation of his teachers, till nine years 
of age, the very embodiment of dulness 
and stupidity. As such, when at this 
age, he was pointed out by his teacher 
to a respectable stranger who visited the 
school. The gentleman, with much ten- 
derness of manner, replied that he 
thought the teacher had mistaken the 



60 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

genius of the boy; that he had talents, 
and might yet attain to eminence in the 
literary world. That kind word struck 
a chord in the mind of the boy which 
made the future man one of the lights of 
the earth. 



SIK WILLIAM JONES. 

Many years ago, a little boy was en- 
tered at a celebrated public school at 
Harrow, in England. He was placed in 
a class beyond his years and attainments, 
where all his companions had had the 
advantages of previous instruction, which 
he had not enjoyed. The tutor reproved 
him for his dulness, and feared that all 
his efforts would not raise him from the 
lowest place on the form. But, nothing 
daunted, young William procured the 
grammars and other elementary books 
which his class-fellows had gone through 



SIR WILLIAM JONES. 61 

in previous terms. He devoted the hours 
of play, and not a few of the hours of 
sleep to their diligent study, till in a few 
weeks he gradually began to rise, and in 
a short time he shot far ahead of all his 
companions, and was the pride of the 
school. That boy became the well-known 
and most eminent oriental scholar Sir 
William Jones, and a great blessing to 
the eastern world. He used to say, that 
God denies nothing in the way of learn- 
ing, to well-directed diligence. 



62 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



mxlxj ^ttmtxmx U ^tli$m. 



MRS. LISTEB. 

At an association of Baptist church.es, 
held at Accrington in England, in 1823, 
a very interesting scene was presented. 
The letters from the churches were read 
to a large congregation, to many of whom 
the whole services were entirely new. 
Various emotions excited every bosom, 
as the different facts from the churches 
were read. 

The letter from the church then meet- 
ing in Lime-street, Liverpool, contained 
an affecting reference to the death of the 
wife of their honored pastor, the late 
Rev. James Lister. She had been high- 
ly esteemed, and the feeling manifested 
was very strong. 



MES. LISTEE. 63 

In the midst of this "great weeping/ 7 
the bereaved husband rose in the midst of 
the congregation, and entreated permis- 
sion of the Moderator to address the as- 
sembly for a moment or two. He pro- 
ceeded to sketch, in two or three senten- 
ces, the character of his departed wife, 
describing her devotedness to God, and 
her usefulness in the church; and then 
addressing the younger portion of the 
audience, he went on to say that the em- 
inence of her piety was the result of its 
early commencement. 

"She did not defer religion/ 7 he said, 
"but at a very early period dedicated her 
heart to God, so that at the age of ten 
years she was admitted to the enjoyment 
of church privileges. 77 He then proceeded 
to state, that on the occasion of her pub- 
lic reception, with others, into the church, 
the congregation were powerfully affect- 
ed at the sight of a candidate so young, 



64 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

especially as she was very small for her 
age ; and that this feeling was greatly in- 
creased by the venerable pastor raising 
her in his arms before the congregation, 
and telling the communicants around him 
that no one among them had given more 
decided evidence of a change of heart 
than that dear child had done. 

He closed with a most impressive ad- 
dress to the young on the importance of 
early piety, and its influence on the hap- 
piness and usefulness of those who pos- 
sess it. 



A YOUNG LADY. 

'The Pastor's Journal," a few years 
since, told us of a young lady who made 
a visit to one of her young friends. 

On her way she took an unfrequented 
path through a deeply shaded grove ; and 
as the day was very warm, after pursu- 



A YOUNG LADY. 65 

ing her walk some distance up a some- 
what steep acclivity, she sat down to 
rest herself on abeautiful mossy bank. 
While there, the tones of a human voice 
very unexpectedly broke upon her ear. 
On turning her eye towards the place 
from whence the sound came, she saw 
Deacon M — — on horseback, making his 
way up the same hill. The thought oc- 
curred to her that she would retire from 
the sight of the road, and allow him to 
pass without being discovered by him. 
She did so. 

As Deacon M approached slowly 

on his horse, she wondered what could 
be his object in talking so earnestly to 
himself, as she could distinctly see that 
no human being was with him. As he 
drew nearer, she found that he was en- 
gaged in earnest prayer, and she distinct- 
ly heard the words, " Oh Lord, have mer- 
cy on the dear youth in this place." 

Bloom of Youth. 5 



66 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

He passed oh praying, till the sounds 
which came from his lips died away on 
the ear of the young lady. But an im- 
pression was made upon her heart which 
never died away. "Is this the manner/ 7 
she reflected within herself, "in which 
Christians live, and pass on their way 
from one place to another? Do they thus 
pray for the youth? How unlike a Chris- 
tian have I lived! While others pray 
for me, I live without prayer for my- 
self. 77 

Her sins, especially her neglect of 
prayer, now became to her a distressing 
burden ; and her friends soon after had 
reason to hope that there was joy among 
the angels of G-od over her and others as 
penitents, during a revival of religion 
that followed in the town. 



MKS. MAETHA WASHINGTON. 6T 
MKS. MAETHA WASHINGTON. 

Of the early life of the consort of the 
Father of his country we know compar- 
atively little, but that little is highly in- 
structive. Her first name was Dandridge ; 
she is said to have greatly excelled in per- 
sonal attractions, but her humility never 
allowed her unduly to value them; her 
pleasing manners and general amiable- 
ness of disposition caused her to be dis- 
tinguished among the fair ones who usu- 
ally assembled at the court of Williams- 
burgh, then held by the royal governors 
of Virginia. At seventeen she was mar- 
ried, and was introduced to the highest 
society; and after her second marriage, 
which was with "Washington, in her twen- 
ty-seventh year, she became "the ob- 
served of all observers," and lived and 
died in the highest reputation for every 
thing which adorns the female character. 



68 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

One passage given by her biographer 
so beautifully presents her character to 
the admiration, and we trust imitation 
of our young readers, that we transcribe 
it for their benefit. 

"Mrs. Washington was an uncommon- 
ly early riser, leaving her pillow at clay- 
dawn at all seasons of the year, and be- 
coming at once actively engaged in her 
household duties. After breakfast she 
retired for an hour to her chamber, which 
hour was spent in prayer and reading the 
holy Scriptures, a practice that she never 
omitted during half a century of her 
varied life. 77 



A YOUTH IN KENTUCKY. 69 



§ttl$im &i (8>M#tM ®mu\mt 



A YOUTH IN KENTUCKY. 

About the year 1828, a young lad in 
Kentucky was hopefully converted to the 
faith of Christ. His father was an avow- 
ed enemy to religion, and while his son 
entreated him with tears to seek the 
favor of God, he turned away with pro- 
fane language on his lips. Still the 
youth showed the power of religion in 
his own heart, and continued his affec- 
tionate entreaties that his father would 
seek the salvation of his soul. The 
father became enraged, and in a high 
passion told his son that he should re- 
nounce his religion, or leave his home; 
and gave him till the next morning to 
decide the question. 



TO THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

The night was spent by this young 
disciple of Christ in laying his sorrows 
before God, and asking wisdom from 
heaven. The morning came, and the fa- 
ther, still firm in his decision, demanded 
of the son if he had made up his mind on 
the subject before them. 

"Yes, father/ 7 said the faithful boy, 
"I am decided to serve Grod, to serve 
him as long as I live ; and I feel assured 
that 'when my father and my mother 
forsake me, then the Lord will take me 
up."' 

The inflexible father directed him to 
the door, and desired him to leave his 
house for ever. 

The son begged that once more he 
might have permission to pray with his 
parents before he bade them a final adieu. 
So reasonable a request could not be re- 
fused. He knelt down and prayed. The 
fulness of his soul was poured out, and 



BH0DA ANN. U 

his earnest cries went up to the throne of 
Grod. The Holy Spirit descended, and 
both father and mother felt the oppres- 
sive weight of their sins. 

When the lad rose from his knees, the 
hearts of his parents relented ; they be- 
sought him to tell them what they should 
do to be saved. In the spirit of the gos- 
pel he directed them to "the Lamb of 
God, which taketh away the sins of the 
world. 77 Hope in Jesus they were soon 
enabled to cherish, and they became 
Christians indeed, and united with a 
church of Christ. 



EHODA ANN. 

In the time of a revival in Harbor 
Creek, Penn., the daughter of an infidel 
was happily converted to G-od, and was 
accepted as a candidate for admission to 
the church. 



72 THE BLOOM OF YOUT 

On the morning of the clay when she 
was to be admitted, she told her inten- 
tion to her unbelieving father. He an- 
grily told her that if she went he would 
immediately banish her from his house. 
After consulting with some of her friends, 
she concluded to defer the duty till some 
future season; but as one after another 
went forward and confessed Christ before 
all, Ehoda herself rose from her seat and 
joined them, saying with streaming eyes, 
" I believe it is better to obey Grod than 
man." There was a moral sublimity in 
the thought and in this new occasion of 
its utterance, which must have wrought 
a most thrilling impression on every 
mind, as she was welcomed into the 
church. 

On her return home she found her 
father absent ; but when he came in, some 
of the members of the family told him 
what Ehoda had done. Turning to her, 



THE CLEEKS IN BOSTON. 73 

he said, "Bhoda, you remember what I 
said to you this morning ; you must now 
quit my house." She solicited the priv- 
ilege of taking with her her clothes and 
whatever else she owned; and having 
obtained permission, collected them to- 
gether, bade her friends farewell, and 
started forth on her exile between sun- 
down and dark. 

Soon after she had gone out, her father 
called to her: "Khoda Ann, you may 
come back now. I only want you to un- 
derstand that I am to be obeyed." She 
returned ; and from that time her father 
treated her with greater kindness and 
tenderness than ever before. 



THE CLEEKS IN BOSTON. 

When I was a young man, says a cler- 
gyman, I was a clerk in Boston. Two 
of my room-mates at my boarding-house 



14 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

were also clerks about my own age, 
which was eighteen. The first Sunday 
morning, during the three or four long 
hours which elapsed from getting up to 
bell-ringing for church, I felt a secret 
desire to get a Bible, which my mother 
had given me, out of my trunk, and read 
it ; for I had been so brought up by my 
parents, as to regard it a duty to read a 
chapter or two every Sabbath. 

I was now very . anxious to get my 
Bible and read, but I was afraid to do so 
before my room-mates, who were read- 
ing some miscellaneous books. At length 
my conscience got the mastery, and I 
rose up and went to my trunk. I had 
half opened it, when the thought occur- 
red to me that it might look like over- 
sanctity and phariseeism ; so I shut my 
trunk, and returned to the window. For 
twenty minutes I was miserably ill at 
ease. I felt I was doing wrong. 



THE CLERKS IN BOSTON. T5 

I started towards my trunk a second 
time, and had my hand upon the little 
Bible, when the fear of being laughed at 
conquered the better emotion, and I 
again let fall the top of the trunk. As I 
turned away from it, one of my room- 
mates who observed my irresolute move- 
ments, said laughingly, 

"'J , what's the matter? You 

seem as restless as a weathercock. 77 

I replied by laughing in my turn ; and 
then, conceiving the truth to be the best, 
frankly told them both what was the 
matter. To my surprise and delight, 
they both spoke out, and said that they 
each had a Bible in his trunk, and each 
had been secretly wishing to read it, but 
was afraid to take it out, lest I should 
laugh at him. "Then," said I, "let us 
agree to read our Bibles every Sabbath, 
and we shall have the laugh all on one 
side. 77 To this there was a hearty re- 



16 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

sponse, and the next moment the Bibles 
were out ; and I assure you we all felt 
happier all that day for reading them 
that morning. 

The following Sabbath, about ten 
o'clock, while we were each reading our 
chapters, two of our fellow-boarders from 
another room came in. When they saw 
how we were engaged, they stared, and 
then exclaimed, 

" Bless us! what is all this? A con- 
venticle ?" 

In reply, I, smiling, related to them 
exactly how the matter stood : my strug- 
gle to get my Bible from my trunk, and 
how we three, having found we had all 
been afraid of each other without cause, 
had now agreed to read every Sabbath. 

"Not a bad idea," answered one of 
them. " You have more courage than I 
have. I have a Bible too, but have not 
looked into it since I have been in Bos- 



THE CLEKKS IN BOSTON. 17 

ton. But I'll read it after this, since 
you have broken the ice." 

The other then asked one of us to read 
aloud, and both sat and quietly listened 
till the bell rang for church. 

That evening we three in the same 
room agreed to have a chapter read ev- 
ery night by one or the other of us at 
nine o'clock, and we religiously adhered 
to our purpose. A few evenings after 
this resolution, four or five of the board- 
ers — for there were sixteen clerks board- 
ing in the house — happened to be in our 
room talking when the nine o'clock bell 
rang. One of my room-mates, looking 
at me, opened the Bible. The others 
looked inquiringly. I then explained 
our custom. 

" We'll stay and listen," they said, 
almost unanimously. 

The result was that, without an excep- 
tion, every one of the sixteen clerks spent 



78 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

his Sabbath morning in reading the Bible; 
and the moral effect upon our household 
was of the highest character. 

I relate this incident, concluded the 
clergyman, to show what influence one 
person, even a youth, may exert for evil 
or good. No man should ever be afraid 
to do his duty. A hundred hearts may 
throb to act right, that only await a lead- 
er. I forgot to add that we were all call- 
ed the "Bible clerks. " All these youths 
are now useful and Christian men, and 
more than one is laboring in the minis- 
try, 



TWO YOUTHS IN BOSTON. 79 



f Mtt#it$ ittttf ^mttomlity. 



TWO YOUTHS IN BOSTON. 

The Boston papers, in the year 1850, 
gave the following account of two wealthy 
merchants then residing in that city. 

They were conversing together, when 
considerably advanced in life, as to the 
period when they were most happy. One 
of them said, "I will tell you when I most 
enjoyed life. It was soon after I was 

twenty-one, when I worked for Mr. 

for twenty cents a day. 77 

"Well," replied the other, "that does 
not differ much from my experience. 
When I was twenty, I hired myself out 
at seven dollars per month, and I have 
never enjoyed myself better since." 

The experience of these two gentle- 



80 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

men teaches us, first, that a young man's 
happiness does not depend on the amount 
of his gains or the station he occupies ; 
and secondly, that very small begin- 
nings, with industry and prudence, may 
secure wealth. 



GEOKGE "WASHINGTON. 

Washington was a minute man. An 
accurate clock in the entrance - hall at 
Mount Yernon controlled the movements 
of the family. At his dinner-parties, he 
allowed five minutes for difference of 
watches, and then waited for no one. If 
members of Congress came at a later 
hour, his simple apology was, "Gentle- 
men, we are too punctual for you •" or, 
"Gentlemen, I have a cook who never 
asks whether the company has come, but 
whether the hour has come. 77 

No one ever waited for General Wash- 



SAMUEL BREWER. 81 

ington. He was always five minutes be- 
fore the time ; and if persons he had en- 
gaged to meet were not present at the 
appointed season, he considered the en- 
gagement cancelled, and would leave the 
place and refuse to return. Noble trait 
of character ! Many facts might be col- 
lected to show that this habit of exact 
punctuality attended him throughout life. 



SAMUEL BKEWEE. 

The late Kev. Samuel Brewer, an em- 
inent minister in London for more than 
half a century, was throughout life dis- 
tinguished for punctuality. When a youth 
in college, he was never known to be a 
minute behind time in attending the lec- 
tures of the professors, or at family pray- 
ers, at which the young men who board- 
ed in private families were expected to 
attend. 

The Bloom of Youth. 6 



82 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

One morning the students were col- 
lected ; the clock struck seven, and all 
rose up for prayer; but the president 
observing that Mr. Brewer was not pres- 
ent, paused for a season, and when he 
entered the room, said, "Sir, the clock 
has struck, and we are ready to begin ; 
but as you were absent, we supposed the 
clock was too fast, and therefore waited." 
The clock was actually too fast by some 
minutes. 



A YOUNG CLEEK. 

An eminent preacher, not long since, 
in an address to young men, said, 

I once knew a young man who was 
commencing life as a clerk. One clay 
his employer said to him, "To-morrow, 
that cargo of cotton must be got out and 
weighed, and we must have a regular 
account of it." He was a young man of 



A YOUNG CLEBK. 83 

energy. This was the first time he had 
been intrusted to superintend the execu- 
tion of this work ; he made his arrange- 
ments overnight, spoke to the men about 
their carts and horses, and resolving to 
begin very early in the morning, he re- 
quested the laborers to be there at half 
past four # o'clock. So they set to work, 
and the business was clone. About ten 
or eleven o'clock his employer came in, 
and seeing him sit in the counting-room, 
looked displeased, supposing that his com- 
mands had not been obeyed. 

"I thought/' said he, "that you were 
requested to get out that cargo this morn- 
ing. ;? 

"It is all done, sir," said the young 
man, "and here is the account of it." 

That young man was never behind 
from that moment — never. His charac- 
ter was established, confidence was fixed. 
He was found to do every thing with 



84 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

promptness. He very soon became one 
who could not be spared, and was as nec- 
essary to the firm as any one of the part- 
ners. He was a pious young man, spent 
his life in active benevolence, and left his 
family an ample fortune. 



LADY JANE GEEY. 85 



^mittMtow $i iwitj- 



ATTACHMENT TO THE SCKIPTUBES— 
LADY JANE GEEY. 

This most amiable and accomplished 
young lady, nearly allied to the royal 
family of England, and devoted to Prot- 
estant piety, y/as put to death at the 
early age of eighteen years. The night 
before she was beheaded, she sent a 
Greek Testament to her sister Catherine 
with this high encomium written at the 
end of it : 

"I have here sent you, good sister 
Catherine, a book which, although it be 
not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet 
inwardly it is of more worth than pre- 
cious stones. It is the book, dear sister, 
of the law of the Lord. It is his testa- 
ment and last will, which he bequeathed 



86 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

unto us wretches, which shall lead you to 
the path of eternal joy ; and if you with 
a good mind read it, and do with an ear- 
nest mind purpose to follow it, it shall 
bring you to an immortal and everlast- 
ing life. It shall teach you how to live 
and how to die. It shall win you more 
than you should have gained by your 
woful father's lands ; for as, if Grod had 
prospered him, you should have inherited 
his lands, so, if you apply diligently to 
this book, seeking to direct your life 
after it, you shall be an inheritor of such 
riches as neither the covetous shall with- 
draw from you, neither thief shall steal, 
neither yet the moth corrupt." 

Miss West. — Miss Louisa West, a young 
lady of fifteen, at Georgetown, Kentucky, 
accurately committed to memory the 
whole New Testament in six weeks, at 
the same time attending to her domestic 
duties. 



A TENDEB CONSCIENCE. 81 



A. TENDEE CONSCIENCE— ME. D . 

Few things are more valuable than a 
tender conscience. Without this, we are 
exceedingly liable to fall into sins and 
remain ignorant of the fact. The Kev. 

Mr. D of Michigan states that soon 

after his conversion, at fourteen, he was 
standing at his father's door playing with 
a younger brother's sled. The little boy 
was not pleased, and the elder one, in 
displeasure, threw the sled over the fence. 
The conscience of the young convert re- 
proached him with this unkindness to his 
brother, and with a line of conduct incon- 
sistent with his Christian profession. He 
confessed his fault, and was afterwards 
more careful to have "a conscience void 
of offence towards G-od and man." 



THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



CONFIDENCE IN GOD— AN AFFEC- 
TIONATE DAUGHTEK. 

A poor woman who had seen more 
prosperous days was observed by lier 
little daughter one morning weeping very 
bitterly. "Don't cry, mother; don't 
cry," said the affectionate girl. "I know 
very well what makes you cry ; it is be- 
cause you have nothing for us to eat for 
breakfast ; but never mind, mother, Grod 
has never let a single day pass yet with- 
out sending us one meal at least, and I 
am sure he will not forsake us now." 

Scarcely were these words uttered 
when a neighbor called to say that a 
friend of hers wanted a woman to do a 
little work for about two hours; and 
knowing the distress of this poor woman, 
she made the offer to her. Of course 
it was gratefully and gladly accepted; 



RESIGNATION TO GOD. 89 

and when she returned home to her hun- 
gry child with some food purchased out 
of the produce of her labor, the affec- 
tionate little girl exclaimed, while tears 
of gratitude started in her eyes and a 
smile of pleasure beamed in her face, 
" There, mother, did I not say that Grod 
would send us one meal to-day? and you 
see he has been a great deal kinder to us 
than we expected. " 



KESIGNATION TO GOD— A LITTLE 
GIEL. 

It is very right that children should 
think well of what the great God does ; 
and that they should try to make others 
think rightly of him too. A pious lady 
lost a little child by death. She was 
soon after sitting with her little daughter 
about three years of age, and talking with 
her about the death of her little brother. 



90 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

As the mother told her that God had 
taken him to heaven, she wept. The 
little girl, after thinking for a few mo- 
ments, asked her mother, " Was it proper 
for God to take Henry to heaven ?" The 
mother replied, "Yes." "Well then," 
said the little girl, "if it was proper for 
God to take him away, what do you cry 
for, ma?" 



LOVE TO CHEIST IN DEATH— MAS- 
TEE CADOGAN. 

True piety will enable us to make not 
only a good beginning, but also a happy 
ending. Here is a beautiful illustration 
of this fact in the case of a little boy, the 
son of the Eev. Mr. Cadogan, a clergy- 
man of high rank in England. 

The worthy clergyman was carrying 
his little sick boy in his arms as he 
walked to and fro in the chamber. The 



LOVE TO CHEIST IN DEATH. 91 

head of the little sufferer rested on his 
father's shoulder, and it was manifest 
that death was near. Breathing with 
great difficulty, the dear child with a 
great effort raised his head, and looking 
up in his father's face, said, "That was a 
sweet saying, was it not? 77 "What say- 
ing, my dear child? 77 asked the father. 
"Why, 'Suffer little children to come 
unto me, and forbid them not, for of such 
is the kingdom of heaven, 77 replied the 
child; and having so said, he laid his 
head down again on his father's shoulder 
and died. 

Yes, that was indeed "a sweet say- 
ing, 77 that saying of the blessed Jesus. 
May every one of my readers enjoy its 
sweetness in life, in death, and through- 
out eternity. 



92 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



$m% (BfUxH to t\v <Bwl 



A YOUNG PEECEPTOE. 

Moee than forty years ago, a young 
man who was preceptor of the academy 
at Bradford, Mass., became deeply inter- 
ested in religion. He was invited to a 
social party to spend the evening, and 
after tea the tables were spread for card- 
playing. 

When he saw this, his mind became 
greatly exercised as to what he ought to 
do. Several of the company were young 
ladies who were members of his school, 
and he felt his responsibility as to the 
influence he should exert upon them. 
At length he made up his mind that he 
would not engage in the amusement, and 
retired to another room. The young la- 



A YOUNG PEECEPTOE. 93 

dies soon asked, "Where is the precep- 
tor? 77 They all gathered around him, 
and entreated him to join them in a game 
of cards. He told them that he could 
not, and gave them his reasons. The 
opportunity was embraced for a free con- 
versation on personal religion. 

Among the young ladies present that 
evening was Harriet Atwood, afterwards 
Mrs. Newell, one of the first company 
of missionaries who went from this coun- 
try to Asia. The faithful conversation 
of that young man resulted in her con- 
version. The young man himself has 
been for more than forty years a suc- 
cessful Christian pastor in New Hamp- 
shire. The full results of that act of 
Christian decision and effort can never 
be known till the day when the secrets 
of all hearts shall be revealed. 



94 THE. BLOOM OF YOUTH. 
MKS. S. B. JUDSON. 

The early life of this eminent Chris- 
tian lady, the second wife of the late 
Bev. Dr. Judson of Burin ah, was distin- 
guished by an intent pursuit of know- 
ledge and by the manifestation of Chris- 
tian zeal. While quite young, she vis- 
ited at a house where a young gentle- 
man had left a pack of gaming -cards 
upon the table. She saw them there, 
and wrote upon the envelope, "Bemem- 
ber now thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, while the evil days come not, nor 
the years draw nigh, when thou shalt 
say, I have no pleasure in them. 77 Star- 
tled, conscience-stricken, and curious, the 
gentleman made every effort to discover 
the source of the warning, and finally 
succeeded in engaging a mutual friend to 
convey a note of inquiry to the young 
monitress. She immediately replied: 



PKOFESSOK B . 95 

" And wouldst thon know what friend sincere 
Reminds thee of thy day of doom ? 

Repress the wish ; yet thou mayest hear 

She sheds for thee a pitying tear, 
For thine own paths of gloom." 



PROFESSOR B- 



Professor B of Michigan univer- 
sity, a few years ago described tiie fol- 
lowing scene at bis father's house : 

My father had deceived himself into 
the belief that his talents were not equal 
to the duty of maintaining family wor- 
ship. He had lived for more than forty 
years in every other respect as a consis- 
tent Christian. One of his sons at the 
time referred to was preparing for the 
Christian ministry, and was spending his 
vacation at home. The last evening of 
his stay had arrived; the family Bible 
was, as usual, placed before him on the 



96 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

stand, and he was expected to lead in 
prayer. 

The thought occurred to him that for 
a year or more, whatever devotion might 
be felt, no voice of prayer would be heard 
in the family, except from the lips of 
strangers. This thought greatly affected 
him; and endeavoring to use a proper 
manner, he addressed his beloved par- 
ent : 

"Father, I am much pleased to lead 
in this exercise when at home, but I am 
pained at the thought that there is to be 
no more prayer here till I return. I 
know the diffidence of your nature, and 
know that it would be difficult for you to 
overcome it, so as to conduct family 
prayer ; but would it not be attended 
with satisfaction to yourself and a bless- 
ing to the family worth a far greater sac- 
rifice? You can ask a favor from a neigh- 
bor — to do the same thing with G-od is 



PROFESSOR B . 97 

prayer ; and the man greatly mistakes 
who supposes that to be the best prayer 
which is clothed in the most fluent lan- 
guage. 77 

The old gentleman was affected, and 
gave an account of his feelings and prac- 
tice in this respect since the commence- 
ment of his Christian course. Tears glis- 
tened in the eyes of some members of 
his family entirely unaccustomed to weep 
for sin. The remonstrance proved effect- 
ual. He whose voice, though for forty 
years a father and a professed Christian, 
had never been heard in prayer by his 
children, at the age of threescore years 
and ten commenced the discharge of that 
duty in his family. His children, ten in 
number, afterwards all professed faith in 
Christ. 



Bloom of Youth. 



98 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



W&t pittfl* ^m%\% <&tm$\iitL 



GBATITUDE—HON. A. H. STEPHENS. 

At a meeting in Alexandria, in 1848, 
the Hon. A. H. Stephens of Georgia de- 
livered an address in behalf of the Or- 
phan Asylum, in which he said, 

"A poor little boy, in a cold night, 
with no home to shelter his head, no pa- 
rental guardian or guide to protect or 
direct him on his way, reached at night- 
fall the house of a rich planter, who fed, 
lodged, and sent him on his way with his 
blessing. These kind attentions cheered 
his heart, and inspired him with fresh 
courage to battle with the trials of life. 
Years rolled round ; Providence led him 
on, and he had reached the legal profes- 
sion; his host had died, and some dis- 



LOVE TO TEACHEKS. 99 

honest persons had formed a conspiracy 
to obtain from the widow her estates. 
She sent for the nearest counsel to com- 
mit her cause to him, and that counsel 
proved to be the orphan-boy years be- 
fore welcomed and so kindly treated by 
her deceased husband. The stimulus of 
lively gratitude was added to the ordi- 
nary motive connected with the profes- 
sion. He undertook her cause with a 
will not easily to be resisted ; he gained 
it ) the widow's estates were secured to 
her in perpetuity ;" and with an empha- 
sis of emotion which sent its electric 
thrill through the house, Mr. Stephens 
added, "that orphan -boy now stands 
before you." 



LOVE TO TEACHEES— COUNTESS OF 

PEMBEOKE. 

It is important always to cherish a 
spirit of gratitude for favors we receive 



100 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

from all. But we owe great love to those 
from whom we have received the know- 
ledge of divine things. We have seen 
the most delightful evidences of kindness 
shown by Sabbath scholars to their 
teachers, and grateful feelings shown to 
secular instructors. We may mention, 
as an interesting circumstance in the life 
of Ann Countess of Pembroke, who was 
distinguished more than two centuries 
since by her learning, her decision of 
character, the languages she acquired, 
and the honors she enjoyed, that she 
erected a monument to the memory of 
her tutor, and always spoke of him with 
the utmost veneration as her guide in the 
rudiments of knowledge. 



GENTLENESS OF SPIKIT— A LITTLE 
ENGLISH GIEL. 

A celebrated teacher in Paris was in 
the habit of relating to his pupils, as 



GENTLENESS OF SPIRIT. 101 

they stood in a half circle before him. 
anecdotes of illustrious men, and obtain- 
ing their opinions respecting them, re- 
warding those who answered well with 
tickets of merit. On one of these occa- 
sions he mentioned an anecdote of Mar- 
shall Turenne. 

On a fine summer's day, said he, while 
the marshal was leaning out of his win- 
dow, the skirts of his coat hanging from 
him, his valet entered the room, and ap- 
proaching his master with a soft step, 
gave him a violent blow with his hand. 
The pain occasioned by it brought the 
marshal instantly round, when he beheld 
his valet on his knees, imploring his for- 
giveness, saying that he thought it w^as 
George his fellow-servant. 

The question was then put to each of 
the scholars, "What would you have 
done to the servant had you been in the 
marshal's situation ?" A haughty French 



102 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

boy, who stood first, said, "Done! I 
would have run hini through with my 
sword. " This reply filled the whole 
school with surprise ; and the master 
sentenced the boy to the forfeiture of his 
tickets for his cruel disposition. 

After putting the question to the other 
children, and receiving different answers, 
he came at length to a little English girl 
about eight years, of age. "Well, my 
dear/ 5 asked he, "and what would you 
have done, supposing you had been Mar- 
shal Turenne?" She seriously replied, 
"I should have said, ( Suppose it had 
been George, why strike so hard? 7 " The 
simplicity and sweetness of this reply 
excited smiles of approbation from the 
whole school, and the master awarded 
the prize and all the forfeitures to this 
little girl. 






PATRIOTISM. 103 

PATBIOTISM— GENEKAL HAMILTON. 

Many years ago, a young man, an un- 
dergraduate of one of our colleges, a 
youth of eighteen, published a pamphlet 
in which he used this language : - ' Tell 
me not of British commons, lords, min- 
istry, ministerial tools, placemen, pen- 
sioners, parasites ; I scorn to let my life 
and property depend upon the pleasure 
of any of them. Give me the steady, 
uniform security of constitutional free- 
dom. G-ive me the right of trial by a 
jury of my own neighbors, and to be 
taxed by my own representatives only. 
"What will become of the law and courts 
of justice without this ? The shadow may 
remain, but the substance will be gone. 
I would die to preserve the law upon a 
solid foundation ; but take away liberty, 
and the foundation is destroyed.' 7 

Two years after this, at the age of 



104 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

twenty, this boy held a commission in 
the army, and was attached to "Washing- 
ton's staff. He united in all the promi- 
nent events of the Eevolutionary con- 
test. As a soldier he assisted to win our 
independence ; as a statesman, to consol- 
idate our liberties, by erecting the great 
framework of our Constitution ; as an 
administrative officer, by organizing the 
government of the Union in its practical 
details. His name lives among us, his 
doings are a part of our history, and we 
convey with pleasure to posterity the 
name of General Alexander Hamilton. 



NEATNESS IN DEESS— MKS. HAN- 
COCK. 

Mrs. Hancock, wife of the Hon. John 
Hancock of Boston, was remarkable even 
to the close of life for the neatness and 
propriety of her apparel. She was ac- 



SELF-POSSESSION. 105 

customed to say that it was equally un- 
pardonable in young persons to be too 
much pleased with their dress, or to take 
too little pains to please others. 



SELF-POSSESSION— THEEE CHXL- 
DBEN IN MAINE. 

A gentleman in one of the interior 
towns in Maine had gone, with several 
members of his family, on a Sabbath 
morning to church, leaving three of his 
children at home. The oldest of them 
was a son of thirteen years, the second 
of eleven, and the third a daughter of 
nine. These children were considered 
by their parents every way trustworthy, 
and no fears were entertained as to the 
safety of the house while they were in it. 

The early part of the time after their 
parents were gone was spent in reading 
interesting books, but towards noon they 



106 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

thought the} 7 " smelt burning wood. They 
soon found the whole upper part of the 
house enveloped in smoke and flame, 
threatening immediate destruction both 
to the house itself and to every thing 
in it. 

What was to be done must be done in- 
stantly. The eldest boy mounted a horse 
and rode with all possible speed to obtain 
assistance from the village, while the 
younger lad and his sister, with a discre- 
tion far beyond their years, set about 
clearing the house of its most valuable 
furniture. They first secured their fa- 
ther's papers; next they contrived to 
remove a valuable clock, by throwing it 
on its face on a soft bed, which they drew 
out of the house ; in a word, by cool de- 
cision and persevering conduct, they had 
almost emptied the house of what was 
most valuable before help arrived. 

When their parents returned, and had 



SELF-KESPECT. 107 

recovered from the excitement of the 
first alarm, they were overcome with 
gratitude to God, who had so wonderfully 
preserved the lives of their children, and 
with pleasure in seeing the filial love and 
the thoughtful care of their sons and 
daughter. 



SELE-BESPECT— JOHN C. SMITH. 

The biographer of the late Hon. John 
Cotton Smith relates, as an illustration of 
his early self-respect and of his love to 
his mother, that when quite a child he 
was reported to her as having spoken 
disrespectfully to a poor man of the 
neighborhood. Though he firmly denied 
it, the proof seemed so strong that she 
punished him. But his grief at being 
thought capable of such a wrong, and at 
falling under his mother's displeasure, 
was so great, that he could not rest until 



108 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

he had brought to her the man, who at 
once cleared him from the charge. 



EESPEOT TO SOCIETY— A LEGISLA- 
TOR'S DAUGHTER. 

Some years ago a young lady remark- 
able for her good sense, a daughter of a 
distinguished lawyer and member of 
Congress from "Worcester county, was 
placed at a young ladies' boarding-school 
in the neighborhood of Boston. Her 
unaffected manners and sprightliness of 
character soon attracted the attention 
and won the affections of many of the 
young ladies, who were full of kind offices 
until one day they inquired of each other 
the occupation of their fathers. 

Our fair friend perceiving the drift of 
their inquiries allowed them to under- 
stand that her father was a shoemaker, 
when many of them were struck with 



EESPECT TO SOCIETY. 109 

horror at her low origin, and a change 
was at once perceptible in their conduct 
towards her. She however, though fully- 
understanding them, remained quiet. 

After a while the father of the young 
lady visited the school. As he was a 
good-looking - man, and they observed 
that the Principal and others treated him 
with great deference and respect, the 
scholars were led to inquire of their in- 
structress who he was. On being told 

that he was the father of Miss H , 

and a member of Congress, they were 
filled with amazement, and immediately 
renewed their attention as formerly. 
Those that had treated her with kind- 
ness, without regard to her father's 
supposed occupation, were ever after fa- 
vorites. 



HO THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 



H#t» %ml m §wt%. 



A CLEEGYMAN'S SON. 

The following highly interesting nar- 
rative shows the elevating character of 
Christianity, and the. desire of even 
youthful Christians to be useful in death. 

About the middle of December, a 
group of young people were gathered in 
the dwelling of their devoted minister 
for Christian conference and prayer. A 
few of the number had been for some 
weeks the subjects of deep religious im- 
pressions, and two or three were cherish- 
ing a lively hope in the mercy of Grod 
through Jesus Christ. Perhaps twenty- 
five were present, and by no one of them 
can the scenes of that evening have been 
forgotten. G-od the Spirit was there, 



A CLEKGYMAN'S SON. Ill 

and his power was felt, and his efficiency 
was manifested. 

In an adjoining room lay one of the 
sons of the minister, an interesting lad 
of twelve years, who was ill of an incu- 
rable disease, and expecting very soon to 
be in eternity. Though a great sufferer, 
he was happy. Grace had renewed his 
heart, Christ was precious to him, death 
had no terror; he looked to heaven as 
his home. At his request the meeting 
was held, for he wished from that border- 
land which he was treading to say a few 
words to the young whom he was leaving. 
After the services had proceeded about 
one hour, he was brought into the room, 
and placed in an easy-chair. The light 
from the stand shone full upon his fea- 
tures. He was pale and emaciated, and 
but for the glow of holy animation that 
lighted up his eye, he would have seemed 
ready for his shroud. 



112 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

'In a few short sentences, articulated 
with difficulty, he told the silent listeners 
what great things the Saviour had done 
for him, and how bright was his pros- 
pect of that better world whose glories 
were already opening to his view. Then, 
as if special strength had been given him, 
he raised his voice, and said, "My dear 
young friends, I am going to Jesus; he 
calls me home, and I go joyfully. May 
I not hope to meet you all there ? Will 
you not now give your hearts to the Sav- 
iour, and so serve him all your days as to 
be prepared to dwell with him for ever? 
Oh, do not put off so important a work. 
Look on me, and see how necessary it is 
to repent and believe in early life. Had I 
now no hope in Christ, what should I do — 
where should I go? When you lay me in 
my grave, remember my words.' 7 He was 
exhausted, and his brother bore him to 
the bed from which he never rose again. 



A CLERGYMAN'S SON. 113 

The scene was tender and affecting. 
The words of the dying youth sunk into 
the hearts of the impenitent. Exhorta- 
tions and prayers followed which had the 
unction of heaven. Nearly all bowed 
before the gentle pressure of the divine 
influence, like willows before the summer 
breeze, and yielded without resistance 
to the Redeemer's claims. 

Among the attendants at that meeting 
was a young man who had just com- 
menced teaching the district school. He 
had been religiously educated, and was 
regarded as " piously inclined. " But his 
heart was opposed to God, and he en- 
deavored to brace himself against all the 
appeals and influences of that impressive 
occasion. He was far from easy; he 
knew his duty ; but he shed not a tear, 
he exhibited no signs of emotion. He 
held up his head, looked gravely, and 
determined to appear unaffected. But 



Bloom of Youth. 



114 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

after the services were concluded, while 

the few converts were singing, 

" Stop, poor sinner, stop and think, 
Before you further go," 

the inward springs were touched by an 
invisible power. He felt what never can 
be described. A friend whispered to 
him the inquiry, l ■ Have you no interest 
in this great subject ?" This opened a 
sluice for his pent-up emotion. He too 
confessed the power which he could no 
longer resist. He became an inquirer, 
and for a week writhed under the an- 
guish of conviction, when, by the grace 
of G-od, he found relief at the foot of the 
cross. 

During that week the amiable young 
Joseph breathed his last. Many lament- 
ed the early transfer of such a plant of 
promise ; all believed that he was gone 
to unfold his gTaces in the paradise of 
God. The night before his funeral, the 



A CLERGYMAN'S SON. 115 

school-teacher and two associates watch- 
ed with his remains. It was a dark night, 
and bitterly cold. The sky was over- 
cast, and every thing portended a storm. 
No tramp of feet or rumbling wheels was 
heard without. All was solemn and aw- 
ful within. The air pressed with mourn- 
ful cadences through the casements. The 
large fire of maple lighted up the apart- 
ment where the watchers were sitting — 
the very apartment where the "young 
people's meeting 77 had a few evenings be- 
fore been held, and connected with which 
were touching associations. The door 
was open into the room where slept the 
youth in placid repose. The three young 
men sat near together, and conversed 
upon solemn themes. Their feelings were 
similar ; they had no hope of future glory ; 
they were seeking the Saviour, and fear- 
ing they should fail and be lost. Timid 
as children, every sound made them hold 



116 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

their breath, and quiver with solicitude. 
Occasionally the ground would break with 
a loud report, so intense was the cold, 
and the doors and windows shook with 
the concussion. It was a long, dreary 
night to those awakened sinners, watch- 
ing with the dead. 

The next day the house was filled with 
sympathizing neighbors. The sleeper 
lay with a face like polished alabaster, 
his eyes perfectly closed, his hair laid 
smoothly over his temples, and his lips a 
little parted, as if he would give one more 
exhortation. The spectators came one 
after another, and looked, and said, 
4 'How sweet the expression!' 7 

A hymn was sung — the very hymn for 
the occasion : 

"Why do we mourn departing friends?" 

and never did that inestimable tune, 
China, sound more impressively, or more 



A CLERGYMAN'S SON. 117 

deeply thrill all hearts. A sermon was 
preached which contained many a graph- 
ic picture of the blessedness of the right- 
eous, and many a melting appeal to the 
young to hear the Saviour's claims. The 
bearers took up the body, and a large 
procession followed it to the place of sep- 
ulture. It was a lonely spot, enclosed 
by a stone wall, and overrun with ferns 
and briars. As the bearers passed in 
with their light burden, the school-teach- 
er, who was one of the number, stepped 
near the grave of his father, who- had two 
years before found there his resting-place. 
Oh, what a rush of emotion was there 
when he thought of paternal counsels and 
prayers ! The body was lowered into its 
narrow home, the earth fell with a hol- 
low sound upon the coffin, the grave 
was filled, the sods were laid over the 
little hillock, the weeping father thanked 
his friends for their kindness, and the 



118 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

people dispersed thoughtfully to their 
homes. 

From that time the religious interest 
spread, and soon became general through 
the town. More than two hundred souls 
were the happy subjects of renewing 
grace. The churches were greatly re- 
freshed and strengthened, candidates for 
the ministry were multiplied, and the 
Kedeemers cause gloriously advanced. 
Years have since passed away, but many 
of the fruits of that precious revival re- 
main. That school-teacher is the pastor 
of a Christian church, and his labors 
have been largely blessed by the apply- 
ing influences of the Holy Spirit. Who- 
ever may forget young Joseph, he will 
not. 



CONCLUSION. 119 

CONCLUSION. 

If the facts recorded in this little vol- 
ume have answered any good purpose, 
they have surely taught us that the lives 
of these eminent persons show the im- 
portance of true, earnest, youthful relig- 
ion. Their triumphs and their defects, 
their achievements and their failures, all 
teach us that youth is in the end power- 
less unless it takes wisdom for its com- 
panion ; and that strength of years, ardor, 
energy, all fail of attaining the great re- 
sults of life, unless allied to religion and 
virtue. 

Let my young readers be persuaded to 
improve the high privileges they enjoy, 
and attain the happiness which the infi- 
nitely gracious Saviour has placed with- 
in their reach. Never before had any 
young persons, in any part of the world, 
such opportunities to know G-od, and the 



120 THE BLOOM OF YOUTH. 

way's of happiness and peace, as those of 
this age and country. Dreadful indeed 
will be the eternal condition of those 
who do not improve them ; but blessed 
beyond conception will be the wise who 
themselves accept Christ, and who turn 
many unto righteousness. 



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